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The Side Effects of Muscle Supplements

The muscle supplements industry is massive, and there are hundreds of products that are easily available for consumers directly from store shelves or from a variety of websites. Muscle supplements are designed to help you increase the effectiveness of your weightlifting and strength training programs designed to build more muscle. It's important to understand what potential side effects these supplements may have before you take them.

  1. No FDA Regulation

    • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the supplement industry unless a product that has been proven to have serious health consequences needs to be recalled. Therefore, the claims that muscle supplements make about their effectiveness and the ingredients they use are unverified and consumer caution must be taken.

    Supplement Recalls

    • Muscle building and fat burning supplements have been recalled from the markets by the FDA from time to time. The extremely popular Hydroxycut supplement was recently recalled after numerous cases linked the product to health problems. Side effects included serious problems such as liver failures and improper functioning. In the past, popular muscle building supplements such as andro, short for androstenedione, have been recalled as well. The side effects for this supplement were much like the side effects of steroids, including emotional problems, hormonal imbalances, body changes and even organ and heart failures.

    Similarity to Steroids

    • The prevalence of scientists that can use chemistry to create various compounds has increased the presence of many pre-hormone like compounds that are currently being placed in some popular muscle building supplements. These are more similar to steroids than to other natural ingredients and are similar to the designer drugs made famous in the BALCO investigation, which was brought into the mainstream media when baseball players Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi were tied to the drug company headed by Victor Conte.

    Potential Harmful Side Effects

    • Since there is a vast array of muscle building supplements there is also a vast array of potential side effects. The overuse of even healthy supplements could lead to liver problems or failure, as well as increased risk of heart attack. Supplements with pre-hormones or designer steroids can change your body's natural hormonal regulation, resulting in physical and emotional changes. Emotional changes can include mood swings, fits of rage, or sadness and even depression. Physical changes can range from the formation of extra breast tissue for men to the growing of facial hair for women, both due to unnatural hormonal imbalances.

    Not All Supplements Have Side Effects

    • Most of the supplements on the market today are not dangerous and do not include illegal or harmful ingredients. This means that most do not have dangerous or serious side effects for the majority of people. The best supplement manufacturers check their ingredients to be sure they are the quality they expect and use natural formulas designed to enhance gains. It's important to perform your due diligence, check for reviews on the Internet and check the ingredients list on a supplement carefully.

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